Shloka 3

Śumbha–Niśumbha’s Mobilization After Devī’s Victories

Battle Muster and Omens

Devanagari script

ऋषिरुवाच । हतानेमान्दैत्यवरान्महासुरो निशम्य राजन्महनीयविक्रमः । अजिज्ञपत्स्वीयगणान्दुरासदान्रणाभिधोच्चारणज्जातसंमदान्

Transliteration

ṛṣiruvāca | hatānemāndaityavarānmahāsuro niśamya rājanmahanīyavikramaḥ | ajijñapatsvīyagaṇāndurāsadānraṇābhidhoccāraṇajjātasaṃmadān

Translation

The sage said: O King, hearing that these foremost Daityas had been slain, that mighty Asura—renowned for formidable valor—questioned his own hard-to-approach troops, who had grown exultant at the very utterance of the name of battle.

Word by Word

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• हतान्: slain
• हतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; adjective to दैत्यवरान्

• एनान्: these
• एनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• दैत्य-वरान्: the best of the Daityas
• दैत्य-वरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• महासुरः: the great demon
• महासुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मह (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि-शम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/क्त्वान्त), ‘having heard/learned’

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• महनीय-विक्रमः: of admirable valor
• महनीय-विक्रमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महनीय (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (or कर्मधारय sense: ‘whose valor is great’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective to महासुरः

• अजिज्ञपत्: informed/ordered
• अजिज्ञपत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञप् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative sense ‘made known/informed’ (णिच् implied)

• स्वीय-गणान्: his own troops
• स्वीय-गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वीय (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दुरासदान्: hard to assail
• दुरासदान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + आसद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; adjective to गणान्

• रण-अभिध-उच्चारण-जात-संमदान्: made exultant by the utterance of the battle-cry
• रण-अभिध-उच्चारण-जात-संमदान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्चारण (प्रातिपदिक) + जात (प्रातिपदिक) + संमद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; adjective to गणान्

Speaker

Rishi (narrator addressing a King)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Daityas
• Mahasura
• King

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights the asuric tendency toward mada (intoxicating pride): even the mere mention of conflict inflames excitement, showing how rajas-tamas bind the pashu (individual soul) through agitation rather than turning inward toward Shiva, the Pati who grants liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By contrast: the Asura’s troops become thrilled by ‘battle,’ whereas Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upasana) trains the mind toward steadiness, humility, and devotion—transforming the same energy of intensity into disciplined bhakti rather than violent exhilaration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a practical counter to battle-born agitation and pride, one may adopt japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrāksha, cultivating śānti and self-restraint before action.